Colourant composition for paint products

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to colorants (colorant pastes) used for the tinting of paint products. The colorants contain: 
     2-75 wt-% (A) pigment component comprising of one or more organic and/or inorganic pigments and possibly extender pigments, 
     10-60 wt-% (B) diluent component comprising of one or more organic solvents other than aliphatic alcohols or aromatic hydrocarbons, wherein 20-100% of the total weight of the diluent consists of a biodegradable ester of lactic acid and an alcohol, preferably ethyl or isopropyl lactate, 
     10-50 wt-% (C) binder component (calculated as 100% non-volatile matter) comprising one or more binders soluble in the diluent (B), wherein 70-100% of the total weight of the binder consists of a ketone aldehyde, ketone and/or aldehyde resin soluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons and 0-30% of the total weight of the binder consists of other binders commonly used in colorants, for example acrylic, alkyd or polyester resin, and 
     0-5 wt-% (D) additive component (calculated as 100% active matter) comprising one or more additives suitable for use in colorants. 
     The binders and additives may be delivered undiluted (solvent-free) or they may contain as a diluent organic solvents that in the colorant are considered as a part of the diluent component (B). 
     The present invention relates not only to the above mentioned colorants but also to their use as a part of a tinting system of solvent-borne paint products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Paint products can be tinted by adding to them highly coloured tinting paints or, with respect to pigmentation, even more concentrated colourants (=colourant pastes). Tinting is carried out in ready-made paint products, white or coloured, called base paints. The colour and opacity of base paints depends on the amount of pigments, white pigments in particular. Base paints may be replaced by base lacquers/varnishes.

Tinting paints are normally product-specific, i.e. they are produced separately for each paint type to be tinted.The number of pigments, colours and kinds of paints is limited.

Concentrated colourant pastes can be used as a part of tinting systems. These systems permit the tinting of a broad range of various types of paint products with one series of colourants. The amount of work, number of ready products and need for storage space will be reduced, at the paint plant and distribution outlets which improves and speeds up the service.

The system involves tinting machines located at various points of the distribution chain. In a paint plant tinting takes place in relatively large batches ("in-plant"), very often according to orders received. Base paints which are delivered to the distribution warehouses and points of sale, are usually tinted directly in sales packings ("in-can").

In the latest tinting systems tinting formulae are recorded in the memory of a PC (a formula databank). The machine dispenses automatically the correct mixing proportions of colourants into the base paint according to the preselected formula. The ingredients are thoroughly mixed in a shaker and the tinted paint is ready for use. Depending on the number of colours desired, 1-10 base paints per each paint type and 5-40 colourants per one tinting system are required.

The paint products are mostly tinted in shades given as code numbers on manufacturer's own colour cards or on those colour cards based on national or international shade standards (RAL, BS, NCS etc.). It is also possible to connect the tinting machine to a colour matching system which enables tinting according to a colour sample. The number of shades is then practically infinite.

It is recommendable to use tinting systems (containing base paints, colourants, the dispensing and mixing system and software for processing colours) always when it is possible. This helps to reduce stocks, minimize costs, ensure quality and improve customer service. Some base paints, especially white bases, are sold in large amounts also untinted.

Colourants in general comprise a pigment component and a liquid medium into which the pigments are dispersed. The dispersion medium consists of at least one diluent, which is an organic solvent or water, and of a binder and/or dispersing/wetting agent. In addition to a dispersing agent, also other additives may be used.

Pigments are first mixed with the dispersion medium. Dispersion of pigments has been shown to occur in three stages:

1) wetting of particle surfaces and pores by the medium

2) breakdown and dispersion of pigment particles (agglomerates and aggregates)

3) wetting and stabilization of the dispersed primary particles and small agglomerates and aggregates.

Dispersion is carried out using equipment the performance of which is based on high shear, impact and/or cavitation forces. Various types of dispersion equipment based on batch or continuous operation may be used; impact, ball, pebble, sand, bead, roller, or colloid mills; attritors, turbo mixers, high-speed disk dispersers etc. The dispersion of pigments often depends more on the process conditions and type of equipment than on the total energy input in the dispersion process.

Dispersion medium, on the other hand, plays a major role in a dispersion process. The medium should be able to wet and stabilize pigments well and be compatible with various types of paints.

In the wetting phase the liquid dispersion medium first displaces air in the pores and on the surface of pigment agglomerates and aggregates. Factors affecting the wetting ability include for example interfacial tension on the pigment/liquid surface, angle of contact and viscosity of the liquid. For effective wetting, these values should all be low.

Through electrostatic and/or steric stabilization a layer is formed on the surface of the dispersed pigment particles preventing them from attaching to each other through flocculation or similar mechanisms. If particles remain too big they are separated through sedimentation. Finally, the consistency can be modified by adding a thickener additive to the colourant in order to retard pigment sedimentation.

The same diluents have been used in the production of colourants as are utilized as solvents in the paints to be tinted. However, binders commonly used in paints can be used in colourants only seldom, because they are not readily compatible with other binders, they often have too high viscosities and poor pigment dispersing/wetting properties. Therefore special colourant binders are used which have better properties with respect to polarity and/or solubility. In binder-free colourants only dispersing agents and diluents, such as water and organic solvents, especially glycols, are used as a medium.

Colourants often have product or shade related problems regarding stability, gloss, reproducibility, cleanness of shade, or other similar properties. To overcome these problems various additives, the most important of which are dispersing and wetting agents, are needed in addition to diluents and binders.

Glycol containing and aqueous colourant pastes, so-called universal colourants, are suitable for tinting both water- and solvent-borne decorative paint products.

Glycol colourants contain alkylene glycols, usually ethylene or propylene glycol (DE-3 839 294) as a diluent. Aqueous colourants have water (GB-2 266 310) or water and glycol (DE-1 519 254 and EP-555 950) or water and another auxiliary solvent such as diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (EP-462 557) as a diluent. Further essential components of a colourant are pigments and non-ionic and/or anionic dispersing agents. Cellulose ether (DE-1 519 254), polyethylene glycol and hydroxyethyl-ethyleneurea (EP-462 557) among others are used as a binder.

The disadvantage of glycol colourants is that they usually contain harmful components when considered from health and safety at work or environmental point of view such as ethylene glycol and dispersing agents of the type alkylphenol ethoxylates, which furthermore impair the properties of solvent-borne paints, especially gloss, drying and water resistance. Pure aqueous colourants are considerably better in terms of safety than glycol containing colourants. Their use in solvent-borne paints is however limited.

In attempts to extend the scope of application of colourants to industrial paints, universal colourants not containing water have been developed. These may contain 1) a water-soluble or dispersible binder, and 2) a diluent miscible, partially or completely, both in water and in organic solvents and 3) typically one or more non-ionic or anionic dispersing agents. The production of such universal colourants is mentioned for example in patent specification EP-507 202. Colourants in accordance with the specification contain 0.5-5% of a non-ionic dispersing agent and 20-50% of a water-miscible organic solvent.

Colourants suitable for use in solvent-borne paint products like printing inks, enamel paints, and industrial bake coatings contain for example following diluents: toluene, xylene and other aromatic hydrocarbons, n-butanol and ethylene glycol ethers or ether esters (SE-72 08650-7 and EP-448 347, examples). For example natural resins, alkyd resins, urea resins, aldehyde resins, ketone resins and acrylic resins have been used as a binder. Some of the diluents (glycol ethers, glycol ether esters, ethers etc.) mentioned in the patent specifications are considered harmful to health. Very often, solvents used in these products have an offensive odour and/or they are hazardous to health and therefore the packagings must be provided with appropriate danger classification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a colourant composition for use in solvent-borne paint products. The colourant composition comprises 2-75% by weight of a pigment component (A) consisting of one or more organic and/or inorganic pigments and possibly extender pigments, 10-60% by weight of a diluent component (B) consisting of one or more organic solvents none of which is an aliphatic alcohol or aromatic hydrocarbon, and 10-50% by weight of a binder component (C) consisting of one or more binders soluble in the diluent component (B). In addition, the composition may comprise 0-5% by weight of an additive component (D) consisting of one or more additives suitable for use in colourants. The above-mentioned ranges for the amounts of components (C) and (D) are calculated as 100% non-volatile/active matter whereupon the solvents possibly contained in the delivery form are included in the diluent component (B). The colourants according to the invention can be used in tinting paints. Preferably, however, they are used in tinting systems containing a series of colourant pastes that allow the tinting of various types of base paints at the paint plant, distribution warehouses, points of sale, or on site by industrial customers themselves.

In this specification the term "paint products" is employed in its broad meaning referring to industrial and trade sales coatings, paints, lacquers, varnishes, fillers, woodstains and similar liquid substances for application to various surfaces as a protective and decorative coating. Colourants or colourant pastes are colour, colour strength and rheology-controlled high solids pigment dispersions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide colourants that are stable in paints and shades without having an adverse effect on paint properties such as gloss, drying/curing times or water resistance. It is another purpose of this invention to create colourants that fulfill the requirements with respect to health and safety at work and environmental aspects; The colourants may not be hazardous to health or to the environment and they may not have an unpleasant odour. These aims were achieved by formulating a new colourant that is suitable for the tinting of solvent-borne paint products. The said colourant composition consists of a pigment component (A), a diluent component (EB), a binder component (C) and possibly of an additive component (D), characterized essentially in that 20-100% of the total weight of the diluent component (B) is a biodegradable ester of lactic acid and a C₁ -C₁₀ -alcohol and 70-100% of the total weight of the binder component (C) is a ketone aldehyde resin, ketone resin and/or aldehyde resin which are at least partly soluble in solvents used in paints including aliphatic hydrocarbons.

Although esters of lactic acid and the mentioned resins are already previously known, the combination now being presented is a new one and, based on comparative tests, it also shows synergy.

It has now been discovered that the said problems can, to a great extent, be avoided if the dispersing medium in colourants for paint products is a binder solution where

1) the diluent comprises at least one organic solvent (other than an aliphatic alcohol or aromatic hydrocarbon) which has a proper level of polarity and volatility, and of which 20-100% is a biodegradable ester of lactic acid and a lower alcohol, preferably ethyl or isopropyl lactate, classified as not harmful.

2) 70-100% of the binder component comprises at least one relatively low molecular mass ketone aldehyde, ketone and/or aldehyde resin soluble in the afore mentioned diluent, and possibly 0-30% of another colourant binder compatible with the mentioned resin part.

Colourants of the present invention are suitable for use for the tinting of solvent-borne paint products, also those diluted in aliphatic hydrocarbons (white spirit) and/or with high solids content (so-called HS paints). They can be used especially in paints, the volatile organic compounds of which should be as safe as possible in terms of health and safety at work and environmental aspects. The amount of colourants added is in general 0-15% by volume of the paint and therefore the solvent content of a colourant more or less affects the amount and quality of the solvents present in the tinted paint.

Contrary to the previously known solutions the addition of e.g. alkylphenol based dispersing agents, which are classified as environmentally toxic and hazardous to fish in particular, is not necessary. Generally speaking the use of large amounts of dispersing agents has an adverse effect on the properties of a paint film. Dispersing agents may also contain non-desired solvents as a diluent.

The weight composition of colourants of the present invention lies within the following limits:

    ______________________________________                                                            %                                                           ______________________________________                                         (A) Pigment           2-75                                                     (B) Diluent          10-60                                                     (C) Binder (100% non-volatiles)                                                                     10-50                                                     (D) Additives (100% active matter)                                                                  0-5                                                       ______________________________________                                    

The weight percentage of coloured pigments in a colourant of the present invention varies from 2 to 75% and of extender pigments from 0 to 50%.

Component classes (B), (C) and (D) are described in more detail below. It is possible to choose many other components besides those mentioned and therefore the presentation is only to illustrate, not to limit the invention.

Pigment Component (A)

The colourants of the present invention are pigment concentrations which are concentrated in coloured pigments in relation to volume. The selected pigments should enable covering a very extensive range of shades and they may not affect adversely the application and durability properties of various types of paints.

Based on their chemical structure organic colour pigments can be categorised for example as follows: azo (monoazo, disazo, β-naphthol, naphthol AS, benzimidazolone, disazo condensation etc.), metal-complex, isoindolinone and isoindoline, phthalocyanine, quinacridone, perinone and perylene, anthraquinone, diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP), dioxazine, quinophthalone and fluorescent pigments. As main categories are often given 1) azo pigments and 2) non-azo or polycyclic pigments.

The corresponding categories of inorganic pigments are for example: pigments in elementary form (carbon, aluminium etc.), oxide and oxide hydroxide pigments (TiO₂, Fe₂ O₃, FeO(OH) etc.), oxide mixed-phase pigments (4BiVO₄.3Bi₂ MoO₆, (Co,Ni,Zb)₂ TiO₄, Cu(Fe,Cr)₂ O₄ etc.), sulphide und sulphate pigments (ZnS, BaSO₄, ZnS+BaSO₄ etc.), chromate and chromate molybdate mixed-phase pigments (PbCrO₄ +PbSO₄, PbCrO₄ +PbSO₄ +PbMoO₄ etc.), complex salt pigments (for example iron blues are complex salts of ammonium and sodium ferriferrocyanides) and silicate pigments (ultramarines (Na₇ Al₆ Si₆ O₂₄ S₃) etc.).

The use of inorganic cadmium, lead, zinc and chromate pigments should be avoided because of their toxicity.

The following organic and inorganic pigments among others may be used in colourant pastes (trade names vary depending on the manufacturer):

    ______________________________________                                                                  C. I.                                                                          (=Colour                                                       Chemical name   Index)                                                ______________________________________                                         Organic pigments:                                                              yellows    Flavanthrone      PY 24                                                        Monoazo           PY 74                                                        Diarylide         PY 83                                                        Monoazo           PY 97                                                        Anthrapyrimidine  PY 108                                                       Isoindolinone     PY 109                                                       Isoindolinone     PY 110                                                       Benzimidazolone   PY 120                                                       Disazo condensation                                                                              PY 128                                                       Quinophthalone    PY 138                                                       Isoindoline       PY 139                                                       Benzimidazolone   PY 151                                                       Benzimidazolone   PY 154                                                       Bisacetoacetarylide                                                                              PY 155                                                       Isoindolinone     PY 173                                                       Benzimidazolone   PY 175                                                       Benzimidazolone   PY 194                                            oranges    Benzimidazolone   PO 36                                                        Perinone          PO 43                                                        Pyranthrone       PO 51                                                        Benzimidazolone   PO 62                                                        Pyrazoloquinazolone                                                                              PO 67                                                        Isoindoline       PO 69                                             reds       BONA Mn           PR 48:4                                                      BONA Mn           PR 52:2                                                      Thioindigo        PR 88                                                        Naphthol AS       PR 112                                                       Quinacridone      PR 122                                                       Perylene          PR 123                                                       Disazo condensation                                                                              PR 144                                                       Disazo condensation                                                                              PR 166                                                       Anthantrone       PR 168                                                       Naphthol AS       PR 170                                                       Anthraquinone     PR 168                                                       Perylene          PR 178                                                       Perylene          PR 179                                                       Naphthol AS       PR 188                                                       Quinacridone      PR 202                                                       Disazo condensation                                                                              PR 242                                                       Pyrazoloquinazolone                                                                              PR 25 1                                                      Naphthol AS       PR 253                                                       Diketo pyrrolo pyrrol                                                                            PR 254                                                       Diketo pyrrolo pyrrol                                                                            PR 264                                            violets    Quinacridone      PV 19                                                        Dioxazine         PV 23                                                        Perylene          PV 29                                                        Dioxazine         PV 37                                             blues      Phthalocyanine α-mod.                                                                      PB 15:2                                                      Phthalocyanine β-mod.                                                                       PB 15:3                                                      Phthalocyanine β-mod.                                                                       PB 15:4                                                      Phthalocyanine ε-mod.                                                                    PB 15:6                                                      Metal-free phthalocyanine                                                                        PB 16                                                        Indanthrone       PB 60                                             greens     Phthalocyanine    PG 7                                                         Phthalocyanine    PG 36                                             browns     Disazo condensation                                                                              PBr 23                                                       Benzimidazolone   PBr 25                                                       Isoindoline       PBr 38                                            blacks     Aniline           PBk 1                                                        Perylene          PBk 31                                                       Perylene          PBk 32                                            Inorganic pigments:                                                            yellows    Iron oxide        PY 42                                                        Nickel rutile     PY 53                                                        Bismuth vanadate  PY 184                                            reds       Iron oxide        PR 101                                            violets    Ultramarine       PV 15                                             blues      Iron Blue         PB 27                                                        Cobalt            PB 28                                                        Ultrmarine        PB 29                                                        Cobalt            PB 36                                             greens     Chromium oxide    PG 17                                                        Cobalt            PG 26                                                        Cobalt            PG 50                                             browns     Iron oxide        PBr 6                                                        Umbra             PBr 7                                                        Chrome rutile     PBr 24                                            blacks     Lamp Black        PBk 6                                                        Carbon Black      PBk 7                                                        Iron oxide        PBk 11                                                       Spinel Black      PBk 22                                                       Iron copper       PBk 23                                                       Cobalt            PBk 27                                                       Chrome oxide      PBk 30                                            ______________________________________                                    

Colourants may contain in addition to coloured pigments also white pigments and extender pigments, for example:

    ______________________________________                                         Chemical name    C. I. (=Colour Index)                                         ______________________________________                                         Titanium dioxide PW 6                                                          Lithopone        PW 5                                                          Aluminium silicate                                                                              PW 19                                                         Mica             PW 20                                                         Barium sulphate  PW 21                                                         Barium sulphate, baryte                                                                         PW 22                                                         Aluminium hydrate                                                                               PW 24                                                         Talc             PW 26                                                         Silica           PW 27                                                         ______________________________________                                    

In selecting pigments attention is paid to the various types of paint for which the colourants are used. Important pigment properties besides colour, hiding power and tinting strength are also reactivity in acidic or alkaline conditions, ease of dispersion (wetting properties, oil absorption), fineness (average particle size and particle size distribution), specific area, brightness, lightfastness, resistance to chemicals, exterior durability and heat resistance.

Pigments are usually delivered in powder form (particle size 20-100 μm) or granulate form (particle size 2000-5000 μm), in which pigment crystals i.e. primary particles form loosely bonded agglomerates or aggregates as smaller and denser clusters.

The average size of primary particles of organic pigments is from 0.01 to 0.1 μm, for inorganic and white pigments with good opacity from 0.1 to 1.0 μm, and for extender pigments from 1 to 5 μm. The purpose of grinding is to reduce the particle size of pigments sufficiently fine to achieve a desired shade with maximum tinting strength.

A variety of pigments can be used to produce colourants of the present invention, also pigments with poor dispersibility, like quinacridones.

Diluent Component (B)

To minimize harmful environmental impact of a colourant, attention is paid to select rapidly biodegradable organic solvents as a diluent for colourants of the present invention. The solvents evaporate during drying/curing phase and therefore the rest of the colourant remaining in the paint film is by no means readily biodegradable.

Substances are considered to be readily degradable if the following levels of biodegradation are achieved in a 28 day biodegradation study (test instructions of OECD or EU):

in tests based on dissolved organic carbon (DOC): 70%

in tests based on oxygen consumption or carbon dioxide generation: 60% of the theoretical maximum.

These levels of biodegradation must be achieved within 10 days from the start of degradation, which point is taken as the time when 10% of the substance has been degraded.

In addition, the ratio of biological and chemical consumption of oxygen can be used in the determination of biodegradability. If the BOD₅ /COD ratio (subindex means 5 days' test period) is greater than 0.5, the substance can be considered readily biodegradable.

The diluent should contain mainly solvents that do not need a special danger classification for a health or environmental hazard. Part of readily biodegradable products, such as 2-butanol (BOD₅ /COD=0.89) have been classified as harmful to health and/or the environment and they do not fulfill the said requirement. Solvents of the present invention may not contain aromatic hydrocarbons.

In selecting a solvent e.g. Hansen solubility parameters δ_(D-) δ_(P-) δ_(H) (D="dispersion", P="polar" and H="hydrogen"), relative volatility (=100 with n-butylacetate) and odour must be taken into account. The solubility parameter range of a diluent must enable combinations with various types of paints. Volatility requirements partly depend on the type of paint product the colourant is intended for. Colourants for stoving enamels, for example, may contain solvents with lower volatility than for air drying paints.

At least 20% by weight, preferably 20-50% by weight, of a colourant diluent of the present invention must comprise of esters of lactic acid, i.e. esters of 2-hydroxypropane acid and alcohols like methanol, ethanol, propanols or butanols of the following general formula:

    CH.sub.3 --CH(OH)--CO--OR (lactate)

where R=C₁ -C₄ -alkyl.

It is most preferable to use ethyl or isopropyl lactate with relative volatilities of 22 and 18 respectively. These together with colourant binders of the present invention form solutions with low viscosity and good pigment wetting/dispersing properties. They are furthermore water-soluble, non-harmful to the environment (CO₂ and H₂ O as biodegradation products), practically harmless to health, stable at normal temperatures and mild odoured.

Lower lactates are extremely well suited as solvents for a large variety of paint binders. Their good pigment wetting ability is most likely due to the fact that the molecule has both a polar hydroxyl group and an ester group. The diluent of a colourant of the present invention may comprise from 0 to 80% by weight, preferably from 50 to 80% by weight, of other solvents than lactates. Lower ethers or ether esters of propylene glycol may be used. The following commercially available grades (manufacturer Dow) are mentioned as an example:

    ______________________________________                                                                      Relative                                          Chemical name     Trade name volatility                                        ______________________________________                                         PG monomethyl ether                                                                              Dowanol PM 70                                                PG mono-n-butyl ether                                                                            Dowanol PnB                                                                                7                                                PG monotnethyl ether acetate                                                                     Dowanol PMA                                                                               35                                                PG mono-n-butyl ether acetate                                                                    Dowanol PnBA                                                                              38                                                Di-PG-dimethyl ether                                                                             Proglyde DDM                                                                              16                                                ______________________________________                                    

Common features of these solvents are low toxicity, biodegradability and mild odour. They can be distinguished from each other in volatility, water-solubility and chemical reactivity. Dowanol PnBA is a water-insoluble, inert, and readily biodegradable solvent. It is suitable as a diluent for colourants used for the tinting of 2-component polyurethane coatings. The colourants for urethane coatings must not contain water or solvents, such as aliphatic C₁ -C₄ -alcohols, that react easily with isocyanate groups. Conventional solvents other than alcohols, for example esters, ethers, ketones, aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbons etc. can be used as colourant diluents as long as they have not been classified as hazardous to health or the environment. On the other hand, a limiting factor for their use may be a strong odour (n-butyl acetate, ketones, etc.)

Binder Component (C)

At least 70% by weight, preferably 80-100% by weight, of the binder of colourants of the present invention consists of a preferably low molecular mass (number average of molecular mass M_(n) being within the range 500-3000) ketone aldehyde, ketone and/or aldehyde resin soluble in all major paint solvents including aliphatic hydrocarbons (white spirits, isoparaffins). The softening points of resins of this type are normally 65-90° C. They form in the majority of organic solvents colourless low viscosity solutions enabling a high pigment concentration in a colourant. The diluent/binder combinations of the present invention have proven as very effective dispersion media for organic and inorganic colour pigments. Their good performance is manifested in that the colourants hardly require dispersing/wetting agents, the use of which has been until now almost a rule.

The production of the ketone aldehyde resins and ketone resins suitable for colourants of the present invention usually involves polycondensation of aldol type with an alkaline catalyst and as reactants non-cyclic or cyclic aliphatic ketones (e.g. cyclohexanone) alone or more commonly with aliphatic aldehydes (e.g. formaldehyde). A more detailed description of the production of such resins is available in literature (e.g. DE-28 31613 and D. Katti & S. Patil: Paintindia, Vol. 43, No. 9 (September 1993), pp. 15-20). The properties of these resins regarding e.g. softening point, solubility and compatibilty vary depending on raw material basis and production method. What they have in common is, however, that they are at least partially soluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons.

Aldehyde resins are manufactured from urea and aliphatic aldehydes such as formaldehyde and isobutyraldehyde using cyclo- and polycondensation reactions. The manufacture of such resins is known from e.g. BASF patent specification EP-0 002 794 B1 and DE-OS-3 641 997 A1.

The following commercially available products among others can be mentioned as suitable binders for colourants: Synthetic Resin EP TC, a ketone formaldehyde resin (softening point approximately 70° C.) produced by Huls AG; Laropal K 80, a polycondensation product of cyclohexanone (softening point 75-85° C.) produced by BASF AG; and Laropal A 81, an aldehyde resin based on urea and aliphatic aldehydes (softening point 80-90° C.) produced by BASF AG. The mentioned resins are delivered as pellets soluble in hydrocarbons, alcohols, esters, ketones, glycol ethers etc. paint solvents. Although these compounds are typically soluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons, some of them may have only a limited solubility in dilute solutions of aliphatic hydrocarbons.

Solutions made of the said resins in lactates combine well with solvent-borne paint products. Compatibilty tests have been carried out for a group of various types of paint with binders such as alkyd resins, modified alkyd resins (styrenated, urethane and silicone alkyds), thermoplastic and reactive acrylic resins, melamine and urea resins, polyester resins, epoxy resins and their combinations with vinyl polymers, nitrocellulose (NC) and cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB).

The present invention allows the replacement of maximum 30% by weight, preferably 0-20% by weight, of ketone aldehyde, ketone and/or aldehyde resin with other suitable colourant binders such as certain modified thermoplastic acrylic resins, of which Plexigum P 28 (Rohm) and Disperse-Ayd 8 and 15 (Daniel Products) can be mentioned as examples. The resins are available as pellets (100% solids content) or as solutions (50-70% solids content) in organic solvents (PG monomethyl ether acetate, white spirit etc.).

Additive Component (D)

Colourants of the present invention require additives only in exceptional cases. Additives comprise a total of 0-5% (calculated as 100% active matter) of the weight of the colourant. Additives may not contain components that are hazardous to health or to the environment.

Dispersing agents may be added to colourants which contain pigments with poor dispersibility. Possible dispersing agents include ordinary, non-ionic (alkylether ethoxylates, alkylglucosides, alkylamide ethoxylates, esters of glycerol, sorbitan esters etc., but not alkylphenol derivates), anionic (fatty acid soaps, alkylbenzene- and alkylsulphonates, alkylsulphonate methylesters, alkylether- and alkylsulphates, alkylphosphates etc.) and ampholytic (alkylsulpho- and alkylbetaine, technical soya lecithins etc.) dispersing agents and often mixtures thereof. The use of so-called polymeric dispersing agents whose performance is based on steric stabilization of pigment is very advantageous in a non-aqueous medium. The polymeric dispersing agents are usually delivered diluted in an organic solvent to facilitate handling. Colourants containing polymeric dispersing agents have excellent storage stability, i.e. gloss, shade and other properties of the tinted paint do not change even during a long period of storaging. The amount to be added depends on the pigment used and is usually 2-10%, in the present invention 0-5% (calculated as 100% active matter) of the colourant weight. Below are given a few examples of commercially available products: Solsperse (Zeneca Colours), Disperbyk 160 (Byk-Chemie), Elvacite (Du Pont) and Efka Polymer (Efka Chemicals) ranges of dispersing agents. More detailed information about their chemical structure, mechanism of function and applications can be found in manufacturers' product information and literature, e.g. J. D. Schofield, "Polymeric dispersants", Handbook of Coatings Additives, ed. L. J. Calbo, Marcel Dekker, Volume 2, pp. 71-104.

Also other additives may be added to colourants. Most common of them are rheology additives which are used to improve the consistency, fluidity and similar rheological properties of a colourant. The amount to be added varies from 0 to 2% of colourant weight (calculated as 100% active matter).

The present invention furthermore relates to the use of the mentioned colourant alone or as part of a series of colourants for solvent-borne paint products, including paints diluted in white spirits and paints with high solids content (so-called HS-paints).

EXAMPLES

The preparation of colourants of the present invention is illustrated with practical examples. Some comparative examples are included in which colourants were produced using methods of already known level of technology. Tinting tests were made using various types of base paints with the colourants.

Preparation of Colourants and Colourant Properties

The following colourants were prepared (see Table 1)

    ______________________________________                                                                  Comparative                                                            Examples                                                                               examples                                              ______________________________________                                         1. Iron oxide colourants (yellows)                                                                1, 2, 3, 4, 5                                                                            A, B, C                                           2. Iron oxide colourants (reds)                                                                   6, 7      D                                                 3. Quinacridone colourants                                                                        8, 9      E                                                 4. Carbon black colourants                                                                        10, 11    F                                                 ______________________________________                                    

The colourants were tested (see Table 2) as such immediately after preparation on the following properties:

    ______________________________________                                                             Method                                                     ______________________________________                                         a) Fineness of grind  SFS-ISO 1524                                             b) Krebs-Stormer viscosity                                                                           ASTM D 562                                               ______________________________________                                    

The stability of colourants was tested also after 6 weeks storage period using the same tests. An increase or decrease in the viscosity should remain within acceptable limits.

Tinting Tests with Colourants

Colourants were tested by tinting the following paint types:

1. Alkyd paint

2. Polyurethane paint

3. Epoxy paint.

The formulae of the white base paints (so-called A base paints) used in the tinting tests are given in Table 3. The colourants are naturally suitable for tinting also other solvent-borne paint products of the same or different type, in addition to the said paint types.

The tests were performed by dispensing colourant into a base paint and shaking the mixture in a paint shaker for 2 minutes.

The following properties of the tinted paint were tested at standard conditions (temperature +23° C. and relative humidity 50%):

    ______________________________________                                                       Method                                                           ______________________________________                                         c) Flocculation Rub-out                                                        d) Gloss        SFS 3632 and ISO 2813                                          e) Pendulum hardness                                                                           SFS 3642 and ISO 1522                                          ______________________________________                                    

A flocculation test is carried out by adding 9.5 ml of a colourant to 250 ml of base paint. A draw-down of the tinted paint is made with an applicator (e.g. 150 μm) on a draw-down paper. As soon as the draw-down is almost surface dry a droplet of fresh paint is added on it and the wet paint is rubbed against the dry paint with a finger tip in circular movements until the paint becomes adherent. The test piece is then left to dry and the shade of the rubbed-out area is compared to the shade of the rest of the paint film. An eventual shade difference is a sign of flocculation which is rated using a relative scale from 0 to 3:

0=no flocculation

3=strong flocculation.

The acceptance of the added colourants in a base paint of a tinting system is critical in the sense that the less flocculation occurs the better it is for achieving e.g. reproducibility of a shade.

In pendulum hardness and gloss tests 25 ml of colourant is added to 250 ml of base paint. Two draw-downs are made on glass plates, one with a 150 μm and one with a 300 μm applicator. The hardening process is followed by measuring pendulum hardness for both film thicknesses after 1, 3, 7 and 14 days of drying. Gloss values at 60° are measured after 14 days with a glossmeter.

In a tinting system colourants may not affect the physical properties of base paints too much. Colourants are not suitable for tinting if, for example, the loss of gloss is significant.

The results of tests with the prepared test colourants are shown in Table 4 and 5.

SUMMARY

Colourant Composition

The colourants of comparative examples from A to C and of examples from 1 to 5 are yellow iron oxide colourants. Colourant A was prepared according to example A1 in the patent specification EP-507 202 by grinding the pigment to a particle size of less than 10 μm. Colourant B has the same dispersion medium as the colourant A. The pigment content was, however, increased from 35% to 44%, i.e. to the same level as in example 2. The diluent of colourant C is xylene, formerly common in use. In other respects the composition is similar to that of the colourant 3. Colourants A and B contain 6-7% of a dispersing agent, whereas colourants 1-5 and C do not contain any dispersing agent at all.

The binder of the red iron oxide colourant of comparative example D is an acrylic resin (Disperse-Ayd 15) delivered as a 60% solution in propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate. Isopropyl lactate of the present invention was used as an auxiliary diluent. The colourant of example 6 has an aldehyde resin as the binder, whereas the colourant of example 7 an aldehyde resin combined with the above-mentioned acrylic resin.

Quinacridones are organic pigments with poor dispersibility. Small amounts of dispersing agents may be added to colourants of the present invention to facilitate the grinding of the pigment. The colourant of the example 8 contains 0.2%, the colourant of the example 9 contains 2.5% of a polymeric dispersing agent. Colourant of the comparative example E was made up using similar pigmentation as in the colourants of examples 8 and 9 but the same dispersing medium as used for the colourant A. Colourant E contains approximately 9% of a non-ionic dispersing agent.

Carbon blacks are also demanding pigments when used in colourant formulations. Therefore, also the black colourants 10, 11 and F all with pigment content of 8.6% were prepared. The colourants of examples 10 and 11 differ from each other as to both their binders and diluents. Neither of the colourants contains a dispersing agent. The dispersion medium of the comparative example F is the same as in colourant A. The colourant F contains approximately 10% of a dispersing agent.

The said contents of dispersing agent are calculated as 100% active matter.

Colourant Properties

All colourants, excluding comparative examples C and E, were easy to grind and their KU viscosity and stability were within tolerances.

Tinting Tests in Paints

The colourants (examples 1-11) of the present invention did not flocculate in any of the test paints. The colourants of the comparative examples, except D, flocculated in two or three of the test paints (colourants B and F worst).

Epoxy paints suffered from a reduction in gloss with colourants B and D of comparative examples; with colourant B the values were approximately half of the values of an untinted paint. Gloss values did not change essentially in examples where colourants of the present invention or colourants A, C, E and F of comparative examples were used.

Tinting had hardly any influence on the development of pendulum hardness of alkyd paint films that were applied with an 150 μm applicator and there was rather an increase in hardness of films applied with a 300 μm applicator. The average hardness of polyurethane and epoxy coatings decreased; slightly in films applied with an 150 μm applicator, more in films applied with a 300 μm applicator. Because the level of colourant addition was quite high (10% by volume) and each colourant was added separately, the reduced pendulum hardness values mentioned are still acceptable.

In practice colours are usually made by mixing several colourants (according to the colour formula) and the added amounts are smaller. The effects of colourants on hardness and other film properties can be controlled by paying more attention for example to volatility of the solvent blends and solvent retentions of the binders used in coating/paint formulations.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Colourants                                                                     Composition Examples:                        Comparative examples:             (% by weight):                                                                             1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10 11 A  B  C  D  E  F                  __________________________________________________________________________     Pigment     43.0                                                                              44.0                                                                              41.2                                                                              47.6                                                                              41.2                                                                              61.9                                                                              61.9                                                                              16.6                                                                              16.6                                                                              8.6                                                                               8.6                                                                               35.0                                                                              44.0                                                                              41.2                                                                              61.9                                                                              16.6                                                                              8.6                Diluent     31.5                                                                              33.9                                                                              39.4                                                                              30.7                                                                              39.4                                                                              14.4                                                                              14.4                                                                              53.1                                                                              49.8                                                                              52.7                                                                              52.6                                                                              41.1                                                                              35.4                                                                              39.4                                                                              14.3                                                                              52.8                                                                              57.8               Binder (100% solids)                                                                       25.5                                                                              22.1                                                                              19.4                                                                              21.8                                                                              19.4                                                                              19.0                                                                              19.0                                                                              29.8                                                                              28.0                                                                              38.7                                                                              38.8                                                                              15.6                                                                              13.4                                                                              19.4                                                                              19.0                                                                              20.0                                                                              21.9               Additives (diluted)        4.8                                                                               4.8                                                                               0.5                                                                               5.6      8.3                                                                               7.1   4.8                                                                               10.6                                                                              11.7                           100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                Dispersion medium:                                                             Synthetic Resin EP-TC,                                                                     25.5                                                                              22.1                                                                              9.7                                                                               16.3                                                                              9.7      29.8                                                                              28.0                                                                              38.7                                                                              19.4     9.7                         ketone aldehyde resin                                                          (Huls)                                                                         Laropal K 80, ketone resin                                                                       9.7                              9.7                         (BASF)                                                                         Laropal A 81, aldehyde                                                                              9.7                                                                               19.0                                                                              13.3        19.4                                    resin (BASF)                                                                   Plexigum P 28, acrylic                                                                              5.4                     15.6                                                                              13.4     20.0                                                                              21.9               resin (Rohm)                                                                   Disperse-Ayd 15, acrylic      8.8                     29.2                     resin* (Daniel Products)                                                       Purasolv IPL, isopropyl                                                                    31.5                                                                              17.0                                                                              29.5                                                                              22.4                                                                              29.5                                                                              5.0                                                                               5.0                                                                               53.1                                                                              12.5                                                                              52.7                                                                              40.0        4.2                      lactate (Purac Biochem)                                                        Dowanol PMA (Dow)                                                                             17.0                                                                              9.9                                                                               8.3                                                                               9.9                                                                               5.0                                                                               2.0         12.6                                                                              39.6                                                                              34.2     50.9                                                                              55.8               Dowanol PM (Dow)           4.3                                                                               4.3   17.4                                       Dowanol PnBA (Dow)                  19.9                                       Xylene                                       1.5                                                                               1.3                                                                               39.4  1.9                                                                               2.1                Troysol UGA, 85% non-                        8.1                                                                               7.0      10.4                                                                              11.4               ionic dispersing agent                                                         (Troy)                                                                         Efka 46, 40% polymeric           0.5                                           dispersing agent (Efka)                                                        Disperbyk 163, 45% poly-   4.3                                                                               4.3   5.6               4.3                      meric dispersing agent                                                         (Byk)                                                                          Bentone 34, thickener                        0.2                                                                               0.1      0.2                                                                               02                 (Rheox)                                                                        MPA 2000 X; thickener      0.5                                                                               0.5                     0.5                      (Rheox)                                                                        Pigments:                                                                      Bayferrox 3910 (C.I.                                                                       43.0                                                                              44.0                                                                              41.2                                                                              47.6                                                                              41.2                 35.0                                                                              44.0                                                                              41.2                        PY 42) (Bayer)                                                                 Bayferrox 130 M (C.I.      61.9                                                                              61.9                    61.9                     PR 101) (Bayer)                                                                Hostaperm Rotviolett             16.6                                                                              16.6                 16.6                  ER 02 (C.I. PV 19)                                                             (Hoechst)                                                                      Spezialschwarz 6 (C.I.                 8.6                                                                               8.6               8.6                PBk 7) (Degussa)                                                                           100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                Diluent (does not contain                                                      diluent of additives):                                                         lactate     100                                                                               50 75 73 75 35 35 100                                                                               25 100                                                                               76 0  0  0  29 0  0                  other solvent                                                                              0  50 25 27 25 65 65 0  75 0  24 100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               71 100                                                                               100                Binder (100%):                                                                 ketone aldehyde, ketone                                                                    100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               75 100                                                                               100                                                                               70 100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               0  0  100                                                                               0  0  0                  and/or aldehyde resin                                                          other resin 0  0  0  25 0  0  30 0  0  0  0  100                                                                               100                                                                               0  100                                                                               100                                                                               100                __________________________________________________________________________      *65% solids in PG monomethyl ether acetate.                              

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Colourant preparation and test results                                                     Examples:                        Comparative examples:                         1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10 11 A  B  C  D  E  F                  __________________________________________________________________________     Production:                                                                    Mixing (dissolver/550                                                          rpm):                                                                          components of dispersion                                                       medium                                                                         Predispersion (dissolver                                                       15 min/1200 rpm):                                                              weight-% of dispersion                                                                     80 70 100                                                                               85 100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               60 60 100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100 100               medium pigment                                                                 Dispersion (bead mill/                                                         3500 rpm):                                                                     predispersion                                                                  weight-% of dispersion                                                                     20 30    15          40 40                                         medium                                                                         Test results:                                                                  Fineness of grind, μm:                                                      immediately after prepar-                                                                  <10                                                                               <10                                                                               <10                                                                               <10                                                                               <10                                                                               <10                                                                               <10                                                                               <15                                                                               <10                                                                               <15                                                                               <15                                                                               <10                                                                               <10                                                                               >100                                                                              <10                                                                               <35 <15               ation       good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              poor                                                                              good                                                                              poor good             after 6 weeks                                                                              <10                                                                               <10                                                                               <10                                                                               <10                                                                               <15                                                                               <15                                                                               <10                                                                               <15                                                                               <10                                                                               <15                                                                               <15                                                                               <10                                                                               <10                                                                               >100                                                                              <15                                                                               <35 <15                           good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              good                                                                              poor                                                                              good                                                                              poor good             Krebs-Stormer viscosity,                                                       KU units:                                                                      immediately after prepara-                                                                 117                                                                               106                                                                               92 105                                                                               73 128                                                                               130                                                                               95 78 90 87 93 117                                                                               84 116                                                                               >140 97               tion                                                                           after 6 weeks                                                                              116                                                                               105                                                                               87 94 76 128                                                                               130                                                                               95 83 100                                                                               86 91 109                                                                               77 116                                                                               >140 101              __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Base paints used in tinting tests                                                                       % by weight                                           ______________________________________                                         1) Alkyd paint/long oil alkyd, glossy:                                         Millbase:                                                                      air-drying long-oil alkyd, 55% in white spirit                                                             20.0                                               thickner                    0.3                                                dispersing agent            0.1                                                Ca drier (10% Ca)           0.4                                                titanium dioxide (rutile)   22.3                                               Let down:                                                                      air-drying long-oil alkyd, 55% in white spirit                                                             50.0                                               Co drier (10% Co)           0.2                                                Zr drier (12% Zr)           0.9                                                white spirit                5.6                                                anti-skinning agent         0.2                                                                           100.0                                               2) Polyurethane paint/2-component, glossy:                                     Component A:                                                                   OH functional acrylic resin, 60% in xylene                                                                 49.0                                               thickener                   0.5                                                anti-settling agent         0.5                                                surfactant                  0.3                                                dispersing agent            0.2                                                synthetic barium sulphate   7.5                                                titanium dioxide (rutile)   19.0                                               Shellsol A (Shell)          8.5                                                Component B:                                                                   aliphatic polyisocyanate, 75% in solvent blend                                                            12.5                                                Dowanol PMA/xylene 1:1                                                         Dowanol PMA (Dow)           2.0                                                                           100.0                                               3) Epoxy paint/2-component:                                                    Component A:                                                                   bisphenol-A epoxy resin, 75% in xylene                                                                    28.0                                                urea/formaldehyde resin    2.0                                                 thickener                  0.6                                                 anti-settling agent        0.6                                                 dispersing agent           0.3                                                 levelling agent            0.5                                                 titanium dibxide (rutile)  19.0                                                talc                       8.0                                                 barium sulphate            8.0                                                 Shellsol A                 9.0                                                 isobutanol                 5.4                                                 Component B:                                                                   diethylene triamine adduct (hardener)                                                                     8.0                                                 xylene                     3.2                                                 Dowanol PM (Dow)           4.0                                                 n-butanol                  3.4                                                                            100.0                                               ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Flocculation and gloss tests of colourants                                                          Blank                                                                             Examples:             Comparative examples:                              Time                                                                              test                                                                              1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10                                                                               11                                                                               A B C D E F                      __________________________________________________________________________     c)                                                                               Flocculation test(0 = best, 3 = poor):                                       1)                                                                               Alkyd paint           0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0    1                                                                         0                          2)                                                                               Polyurethane paint    0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0    1                                                                         2                          3)                                                                               Epoxy paint           0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0    1                                                                         3                          d)                                                                               Gloss (glossmeter/60°, units):                                        1)                                                                               Alkyd paint:                                                                   150 μm applicator                                                                           14 d                                                                              93 93  93    88                                                                               90      90  92  88   89                                                                        90                           300 μm applicator                                                                           14 d                                                                              93 93  93    89                                                                               90      90  93  89   89                                                                        90                         2)                                                                               Polyurethane paint:                                                            150 μm applicator                                                                           14 d                                                                              95 89  94    90                                                                               91      87  93  90   89                                                                        90                           300 μm applicator                                                                           14 d                                                                              96 87  93    91                                                                               92      84  92  91   90                                                                        91                         3)                                                                               Epoxy paint:                                                                   150 μm applicator                                                                           14 d                                                                              60 60  58    65                                                                               64      62  19  48   58                                                                        61                           300 μm applicator                                                                           14 d                                                                              70 67  68    65                                                                               65      63  30  48   64                                                                        62                         __________________________________________________________________________      d = days                                                                       blank test = with untinted base paint                                    

                                      TABLE 5                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Pendulum hardness test of colourants                                           e) Pendulum hardness                                                                        Blank                                                                             Examples:             Comparative examples:                    (Konig/oscillations):                                                                    Time                                                                              test                                                                              1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10                                                                               11                                                                               A B C D E F                              __________________________________________________________________________     1) Alkyd paint:                                                                150 μm applicator                                                                     1 d                                                                               11 10  11    12                                                                               10      11  11  13                                                                               14 11                                      3 d                                                                               18 18  18    20                                                                               18      19  18  21                                                                               23 20                                      7 d                                                                               26 30  36    44                                                                               45      41  35  45                                                                               43 40                                      14 d                                                                              50 54  52    56                                                                               54      55  47  51                                                                               51 47                            300 μm applicator                                                                     1 d                                                                               6  6   5     6 5       5   5   6 7  6                                       3 d                                                                               6  7   6     8 8       7   7   7 8  8                                       7 d                                                                               7  8   8     10                                                                               11      9   8   9 12 11                                      14 d                                                                              10 11  10    13                                                                               17      12  12  12                                                                               16 17                            2) Polyurethane paint:                                                         150 μm applicator                                                                     1 d                                                                               22 18  23    20                                                                               18      18  22  22                                                                               21 19                                      3 d                                                                               57 50  59    50                                                                               53      41  53  53                                                                               54 55                                      7 d                                                                               66 52  59    60                                                                               72      51  59  67                                                                               74 72                                      14 d                                                                              77 67  74    68                                                                               74      54  69  74                                                                               69 75                            300 μm applicator                                                                     1 d                                                                               7  6   6     7 6       7   7   7 7  8                                       3 d                                                                               26 24  23    21                                                                               21      16  26  24                                                                               24 27                                      7 d                                                                               36 27  31    31                                                                               31      23  34  35                                                                               35 40                                      14 d                                                                              41 32  35    36                                                                               35      27  39  40                                                                               38 43                            3) Epoxy paint:                                                                150 μm applicator                                                                     1 d                                                                               41 36  43    34                                                                               28      27  45  31                                                                               31 32                                      3 d                                                                               56 50  56    47                                                                               40      38  57  46                                                                               45 46                                      7 d                                                                               63 56  58    54                                                                               49      48  57  56                                                                               56 56                                      14 d                                                                              69 62  62    69                                                                               55      55  64  63                                                                               63 63                            300 μm applicator                                                                     1 d                                                                               16 12  14    12                                                                               11      11  17  12                                                                               11 12                                      3 d                                                                               31 27  29    26                                                                               21      21  34  21                                                                               22 24                                      7 d                                                                               40 34  34    37                                                                               27      26  41  29                                                                               28 32                                      14 d                                                                              46 38  38    44                                                                               31      30  46  39                                                                               30 37                            __________________________________________________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. A colourant composition for solvent-borne paint products comprising 2-75% by weight of a pigment component (A) consisting of one or more organic and/or inorganic pigments and possibly extender pigments, 10-60% by weight of a diluent component (B) consisting of one or more organic solvents not being an aliphatic alcohol or aromatic hydrocarbon, 10-50% by weight with respect to the total weight of components A, B, C, and D, of a binder component (C) consisting of one or more binders soluble in the diluent component (B), and 0-5% by weight with respect to the total weight of components A, B, C, and D, of an additive component (D) consisting of one or more additives suitable for use in colourants, wherein 20-100% of the total weight of the diluent component (B) consists of a biodegradable ester of lactic acid and a C₁ -C₁₀ -alcohol and 70-100% of the total weight of the binder component (C) consists of a ketone aldehyde resin, ketone resin and/or aldehyde resin at least partially soluble in paint solvents including aliphatic hydrocarbons.
 2. A colourant according to claim 1, wherein 20-50% by weight with respect to the total weight of the diluent component (B) consists of a biodegradable ester of lactic acid and C₁ -C₁₀ alcohol.
 3. A colourant according to claim 1, wherein the biodegradable ester of lactic acid and C₁ -C₁₀ alcohol of the diluent component (B) is an ester which is a lactate of the following general formula

    CH.sub.3 --CH(OH)--CO--OR

where R is a C₁ -C₄ -alkyl group.
 4. A colourant according to claim 3, wherein the biodegradable ester of lactic acid and C₁ -C₄ alcohol of the diluent component (B) is an ethyl lactate or an isopropyl lactate.
 5. A colourant according to claim 1, wherein 0-80% by weight, with respect to the weight of the diluent component (B), consists of a C₁ -C₄ alkyl ether or a C₁ -C₄ alkyl ether ester of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol.
 6. A colourant according to claim 1, wherein 80-100% by weight with respect to the total weight of the binder component (C) consists of a ketone aldehyde resin, ketone resin and/or aldehyde resin also soluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons.
 7. A colourant according to claim 1, wherein the mentioned ketone aldehyde resin, ketone resin and/or aldehyde resin of the binder component (C) is a resin with a softening point between 65 and 90° C.
 8. A colourant according to claim 1, wherein the mentioned ketone aldehyde resin, ketone resin and/or aldehyde resin of the binder component (C) is a resin with a number-average molecular mass M_(n) in the range of 500-3000 g/mol.
 9. A colourant according to claim 1, wherein the mentioned ketone aldehyde resin of the binder component (C) is a resin produced by an aldol polycondensation of non-cyclic or cyclic aliphatic ketones and aliphatic aldehydes.
 10. A colourant according to claim 1, wherein the mentioned ketone resin soluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons of the binder component (C) is a resin produced by an aldol condensation of non-cyclic or cyclic aliphatic ketones.
 11. A colourant according to claim 1, wherein the mentioned aldehyde resin soluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons of the binder component (C) is a resin produced by cyclo- or polycondensation reaction of urea and an aliphatic aldehyde.
 12. A colourant according to claim 1, wherein 0-30% by weight, preferably 0-20% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the binder component (C) consists of a thermoplastic acrylic resin.
 13. A colourant according to claim 1, wherein the pigment component (A) consists of one or more organic pigments selected from the following pigment groups: azo pigments, metal-complex pigments, isoindolinone and isoindoline pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, quinacridone pigments, perinone and perylene pigments, anthraquinone pigments, diketopyrrolopyrrole pigments, dioxazine pigments, quinophthalone pigments and fluorescent pigments.
 14. A colourant according to claim 1, wherein the pigment component (A) consists of one or more inorganic pigments selected from the following pigment groups: elementary pigments, oxide and oxide hydroxide pigments, oxide mixed-phase pigments, sulphide and sulphate pigments, chromate and chromate molybdate mixed-phase pigments, complex salt pigments and silicate pigments.
 15. A colourant according to claim 1, wherein the additive component (D) consists of one or more additives suitable for use in colourants selected from non-ionic dispersing agents, anionic dispersing agents, ampholytic dispersing agents and/or polymeric dispersing agents.
 16. A colourant according to claim 1, wherein the additive component (D) consists of one or more rheology additives suitable for use in colourants.
 17. A solvent-borne, including white spirit containing, paint product or a paint product having a high solids content (so-called HS-paints) containing the colourant of claim
 1. 18. The colourant of claim 5 wherein 50-80% by weight, with respect to the weight of the diluent component (B), consists of a C₁ -C₄ alkyl ether or C₁ -C₄ alkyl ether ester of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol.
 19. The colourant of claim 5 wherein the C₁ -C₄ alkyl ether or C₁ -C₄ alkyl ether ester of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol is selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol mono n-butyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, and dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether.
 20. The colourant of claim 5 wherein the C₁ -C₄ alkyl ether or C₁ -C₄ alkyl ether ester of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol is propylene glycol mono n-butyl ether acetate. 